Redlands to explain alcohol rules at May 29 public meeting

REDLANDS >> The city’s Development Services Department and Redlands police personnel will hold a public meeting to discuss and answer questions regarding a proposed Deemed Approved Ordinance, which adds requirements and regulations related to new alcohol sales in the city.

The meeting is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. May 29 in the Redlands City Council Chambers, 35 Cajon St.

“It was clear from last week’s (May 6) meeting we needed to do some more public education because there was a lot of misunderstanding about what this ordinance is intended to do,” said Carl Baker, city spokesman. “So we are holding this meeting for the business owners and anybody who’s interested in this ordinance to explain the ordinance, answer their questions and hopefully allay some of these fears they have.”

The City Council on May 6 decided to postpone their consideration of the ordinance to allow city staff to meet with business owners.

Several owners and employees voiced their concerns about the ordinance during the meeting, including possible fees associated with the ordinance and the possibility of requiring cameras inside the business to allow police surveillance.

“Clearly we heard from the businesses, and obviously we didn’t do an adequate job of explaining this to them prior to this meeting because there was a lot of misunderstanding, so we’re trying to remedy that,” Baker said.

If approved and implemented, the ordinance would establish conditional use permit requirements for new alcoholic beverage sales activities and establish regulations for businesses selling alcoholic beverages, such as liquor stores and bars.

Existing businesses in the city would be “deemed approved,” meaning they would not require a new conditional use permit, according to city officials.

Regulations include items such as compliance with existing local, state and federal laws; training for employees in an approved “Responsible Beverage Sales” course; upkeep and operating practices that are compatible and do not adversely affect surrounding properties and neighborhoods; no repeated nuisance activities within or in close proximity to the premises; and the establishment must not adversely affect or endanger people living, working or visiting in the surrounding area, according to a city news release.

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Baker addressed some of the concerns brought up during the past council meeting. He said there is no new tax or fee associated with the ordinance and cameras would only be considered for a new business by the Planning Commission.

“We’ve had businesses where as condition of approval they’ve been required to put in cameras,” he said, citing the 7-11 convenience store on Lugonia Avenue as an example.

“They’re not wanting to watch people eat their meals.”

The ordinance is geared toward new businesses or businesses that substantially change their business plans, he said.

It’s also not intended for restaurants that serve alcohol with food, he said.

Anyone interested in the proposed ordinance or in alcoholic beverage sales in the city of Redlands is invited to attend the meeting.

Representatives with the Institute for Public Strategies will be in attendance to describe the ordinance and its purposes.

The Institute worked with Redlands police and community members on the ordinance.

A city staff report on the proposed ordinance is available on the city’s website and at the City Clerk’s office, 35 Cajon St. Suite 4.

A full copy of the proposed ordinance is available at the Redlands City Clerk’s Office or online.